When I was in school studying was always a drag. I hated having to sit at a desk, read, research, and memorize facts. However, over the years, I’ve found that Bible study has been exciting, adventurous, and life changing. It all depends on your perspective and desire to grow spiritually.
To be successful at studying my Bible, I had to come up with a plan. You will always have greater success in anything you do if you take time to plan and prepare. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first hour sharpening the ax.” Today I want to look at three areas you need to plan and prepare to study your Bible.
Prepare your physical space for Bible Study
Location matters. If you try to study sitting on the couch with the TV on (as I’ve tried numerous times) you will not get very far. It’s important to find a space that is quiet, comfortable and free of distractions.
Make sure you schedule your study time. You will be more likely to succeed in your study plan if you schedule time in your calendar. By scheduling time, you are making a commitment to yourself to be there and focus on your study.
Here a few other things to consider when preparing your space:
- Make sure to have your Bible, Dictionary, and other study materials within arms reach
- Keep a notebook at your side to take notes and write down questions that come to mind
- Always have writing and Bible marking pens, pencils, or highlighters with you
Prepare your Mind for Study
Too often the problems of life creep into your time of study and sabotage any chance you have of accomplishing your study goal. Take a few minutes before you begin your study to clear your mind of all the distractions around you. This may be as simple as a minute or two of silence or a free writing exercise to write out everything that’s going through your mind at that time.
It’s also a good idea to get plenty of sleep before you begin your study. When you are alert and awake you have a better chance of retaining what you’ve learned. For this reason, I recommend scheduling your study time in the morning.
Prepare your Heart for Study
Ultimately, your goal in Bible study is for God to reveal Himself to you, and for Him to give you guidance in your life through your study. The most important part of preparing yourself for Bible study is prayer. This doesn’t have to be a long prayer where you pray for everything under the sun. Simply a prayer that God will reveal Himself to you through His Word.
Bible study is more than just gaining academic knowledge from a book. It is your opportunity to read God’s love letter written just for you. Just think, He had you in mind as the Holy Spirit guided the authors to write the words in this timeless, living book.
One last thing about preparing yourself for Bible study. Set obtainable goals in your study. If you’re new to studying the Bible then just take a small chunk of scripture at a time to study. Begin in a book that is familiar to you. It’s okay to create small obtainable goals. That way, when you reach them, you’ll be pumped up enough to tackle more. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to spiritual growth that you never thought you could obtain.